Aquila Hops: Profile & Substitutions

Description

Aquila was bred in Washington, Oregon and Idaho in 3-acre trials in 1987 by United States Department of Agriculture. Eventually released commercially in 1994 after trials. Anheuser Busch showed interest and Washington in increased to 100 acres to allow for evaluation. Aquila was open-pollinated from Brewers Gold.

Aquila hasn't worked out as a commercial hop due to high cohumulone content and subpar storage stability. Discontinued in 1996 after Anheuser Busch lost interest.

Substitution Tip

If you can't find Aquila, the best alternatives are Banner, Cluster, or Galena.

At A Glance

Profile Woody, Earthy, Spicy, with secondary notes of Lemon, Grapefruit, and Floral.
Purpose Aroma
Alpha Acid 6.7 - 8.9%
Substitutes Banner, Cluster, Galena
Beer Styles American Lagers - late-kettle addition to provide subtle floral and spicy aroma while not contributing to bitterness, American Ales, Saison

General Information

Country United States
Storage Stability
Retains 40% alpha acid contents after 6 months of storage at 68°F.

Brewing Chemistry (Acids & Oils)

Alpha Acid 6.7 - 8.9%
Beta Acid 4.1 - 4.9%
Cohumulone 46.0%
Total Oil 1.4 ml/100g
Myrcene 62.0%
Humulene 2.0%
Caryophyllene 5.0%
Farnesene 2.2%

Growth & Cultivation

Yield 2,120 lbs/acre
Maturity Middle to late
Resistant Verticillium Wilt, Downy Mildew (moderate)
Growth Rate Very good to excellent
Ease of Harvest Average
Sex Female
Leaf Color Light green
Side Arm Length 20" - 30"

Discovery Tags

Flavor/Aroma
Earthy Floral Grapefruit Lemon Spicy Woody
Variety Name
Banner Brewers Gold Cluster Galena
Beer Style
American Ales American Lagers Saison
Usage
Aroma
Origin
United States
Breeding/Supplier
United States Department Of Agriculture
Last Updated
  • 2026-02-16 14:14:56
Source(s)

Hops Catalog

Navigating This Profile
  • The Stats: Use the Purpose and Alpha % to understand the hop's bitterness and aromatic strength.
  • Discovery Tags: Scroll down to find clickable tags for Flavor, Origin, and Usage.
  • The Network: Click any tag (like #Citrus or #New Zealand) to instantly view every other hop in our catalog that shares that trait.
Discovery Tag Spotlight

  • #Stone-Fruit (Orchard Vibe)

    Saturday is for smooth sipping. From fuzzy peach to ripe apricot, these hops add a soft, rounded sweetness to the aroma of Pale Ales and Sours. Explore #Stone-Fruit Hops!
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Did you know?
  • Dwarf variety hops grow shorter in height than traditional varieties but, importantly, produce the same yield. This combination makes harvest easier.
Explanations
  • Storage: is based on the percentage of alpha acids remaining after 6 months at 20*F.
  • Oil composition percetages are based on the total percentage of oil in the hop. Example: 10 - 20% means that for the specific oil it is 10 - 20% of the overall oil make up.